Can You Get Lyme Disease Twice?

Overview

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks commonly known as deer ticks. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics but if left untreated it can cause serious health problems such as arthritis heart palpitations neurologic symptoms.

Can You Get Lyme Disease Twice?

Yes it is possible to get Lyme disease more than once. Being infected with Lyme disease once does not make a person immune to future infections. In fact some people who have had the disease before may be more susceptible to getting it again.

Why Might You Get Lyme Disease Twice?

There are a few reasons why a person might get Lyme disease more than once. Firstly Lyme disease is caused by multiple strains of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. If a person is infected with one strain they may still be susceptible to other strains.

Secondly ticks can carry other disease-causing organisms in addition to Borrelia burgdorferi. For example a tick bite may transmit both Lyme disease another tick-borne illness such as Babesiosis or Anaplasmosis.

Thirdly a person’s immune system may not produce long-lasting immunity to the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria after an initial infection. This means that even if a person has successfully fought off the infection once they may still be susceptible to future infections.

Prevention

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to take measures to avoid tick bites. This includes wearing long-sleeved clothing using tick repellent avoiding wooded brushy areas where ticks are commonly found checking yourself your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.

If you have been bitten by a tick it is important to remove it as soon as possible using tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin pulling it straight out. If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease such as a rash fever joint pain seek medical attention promptly.

Conclusion

In conclusion it is possible to get Lyme disease more than once there are several reasons why this might occur. The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to take measures to avoid tick bites to seek prompt medical attention if you develop symptoms of the disease.